WASHINGTON – The opinions expressed in e-mail and online by Whole Foods’ outspoken chief executive were cited repeatedly during a Wednesday court hearing on the company’s proposed acquisition of Wild Oats Markets.

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to block the $565 million transaction, arguing that it would violate antitrust laws and lead to higher prices.

Michael Bloom, a lawyer for the FTC, quoted CEO John Mackey’s comments in an e-mail to Whole Foods Market Inc.’s board that the purchase of Wild Oats Markets Inc. would allow the company to “avoid nasty price wars.”

“Nasty price wars are nasty to Mr. Mackey,” Bloom said. “But they are not nasty to consumers.”

Bloom, in his closing statement on the second day of a two-day hearing at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said Mackey was “candid” in his deposition about Whole Foods’ intention to close some Wild Oats’ stores. Bloom said the closures would limit consumer alternatives.

“He’s candid regardless of which name he uses,” Judge Paul L. Friedman said, referring to Mackey’s postings on online financial Web sites under the screen name “rahodeb,” an anagram of his wife’s name, Deborah.

Judge Friedman asked several questions that focused on a key issue in the case, which is whether Whole Foods and Wild Oats compete in a limited market of “premium natural and organic supermarkets,” as the FTC argues, or whether they also compete against traditional grocery chains such as Safeway Inc. and Kroger Co., which are selling increasing amounts of organic food.

Bloom said that, with exceptions in the southeast and Oregon, “Whole Foods combined with Wild Oats owns virtually every premium natural and organic supermarket in the United States.”

Whole Foods’ lawyers, who will present their closing statement Wednesday afternoon, argued Tuesday that many of their customers “cross-shop” at other stores, such as Safeway’s or Trader Joe’s, indicating that those stores are potential competitors.

Bloom said it is not surprising cross-shopping occurs, but said there is a core group of Whole Foods and Wild Oats customers who don’t see traditional grocery chains as alternatives. Whole Foods could raise prices on many products after buying Wild Oats and still keep these customers, he said.

Bloom also noted that Whole Foods says it carries 30,000 organic products, compared with only 1,200 or so at traditional chains.

The FTC has said that the purchase would lessen competition in 25 markets – 18 where the two companies overlap and seven where Boulder, Colo.-based Wild Oats would enter if they remain independent.

Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods operates 190 stores, while Wild Oats has about 110. Both are relatively small players in the grocery industry – Kroger operates over 2,400 stores.

The FTC is seeking a preliminary injunction to block the transaction. Judge Friedman, who is expected to rule by mid-August, said Wednesday that the parties have indicated they will appeal his ruling if it goes against them. Most companies back off from transactions if the FTC wins a preliminary injunction.

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